title: Autologous stem cell therapy maintains vertebral blood flow and contrast diffusion through the endplate in experimental intervertebral disc degeneration.
abstract: METHODS
  Experimental, controlled, randomized, and paired study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate regenerative effect of stem cell therapy on the vertebral endplate and introduce dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool in the investigation of endplate function.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The vertebral endplate plays a crucial role in nutritional supply to the intervertebral disc. Estimation of endplate function is an important parameter in future biologic therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-level IDD was induced in each of 15 Gottingen minipigs. Percutaneous intradiscal injection of two hydrogels (Zimmer Biologics Inc, Austin, TX) and one loaded with stem cells was used as single interventions after 12 weeks. Total observation time was 24 weeks. MRI was performed before the initiation of treatment and killing of animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three animals were excluded because of spondylodiscitis. Stem cell and hydrogel treatment had significantly higher T2 values, relative vertebral blood flow and volume, as well as lower Pfirrmann scores when compared with degenerative controls. No statistical differences were found compared to normal controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stem cell and hydrogel therapy is able to partly regenerate IDD and maintain perfusion and permeability of the vertebral endplate and subchondral bone. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may become an important tool in future investigation of the vertebral endplate.
authors.affiliation: Orthopeadic Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. michael.bendtsen@ki.au.dk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendtsen
authors.forename: Cody Eric
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bünger
authors.forename: Xuenong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Casper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foldager
authors.forename: Hans Stødkilde
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020100:Hydrogels; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011897:Random Allocation; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels